Surge of ROI and AI-enabled use cases with on-premise edge and private Wireless: Nokia
Nokia released
the 2025 Industrial Digitalization Report developed with GlobalData, which
highlights that 87% of on-premise edge and private network adopters are seeing
a return on investment in just one year while enabling AI-driven use cases.
Additionally, 81% of industrial enterprises found setup costs lower, with over half
saving at least 11%. Ongoing costs also dropped for 86% of companies, with 60%
reporting savings of at least 11%. For access to the report, click here.
The report draws on insights from 115 industrial enterprises in manufacturing,
energy, logistics, mining, and transportation in Australia, Germany, Japan, the
United Kingdom, and the United States.
On-premise edge and private wireless unlock AI's potential in complex
industrial environments
AI's potential in industrial settings hinges on access to high-quality,
real-time data; 94% of industrial enterprises have deployed on-premise edge
technology alongside private wireless. This combination enables secure,
low-latency connectivity in complex environments and pervasive sensor coverage,
even in hard-to-reach areas, supporting AI-driven use cases like predictive
maintenance, real-time monitoring, and digital twins in 70% of surveyed enterprises.
BASF, a
leading chemical company, deployed Nokia private wireless at its Antwerp
facility to advance its digitalization strategy and enable reliable,
high-performance connectivity across its six-square-kilometer premises. The
private network supports AI- and sensor-driven use cases like real-time
monitoring and predictive maintenance, enhances automation and efficiency,
improves worker safety, and reduces environmental impact.
Private Wireless Drives Sustainability Gains
The study also highlights how operational performance improvements driven by
private wireless networks are supporting sustainability goals. 94% of the
surveyed industrial enterprises reported a reduction in carbon emissions, with
41% achieving decreases of more than 20%, and 89% seeing energy savings. These
gains are amplified by predictive maintenance, connected devices, and drones
that cut fuel-intensive travel and enable more accurate, real-time emissions
tracking.
Safety,
efficiency, and automation with connected worker technologies
Beyond environmental impact, 71% of surveyed companies are actively deploying
connected worker tools such as automated alarms, AI-assisted monitoring, and
geofencing solutions to reduce accidents and strengthen worker safety.
Connected devices streamline tasks by reducing the need to move for signal and
simplifying access to information. They also cut paperwork and minimize human
error, boosting efficiency on-site, and automation.
Cybersecurity
drives on-premise edge and private wireless adoption
Security remained a top priority, with 57% of respondents identifying
cybersecurity as a driver to deploy an Industrial Edge platform powered by a
Private Wireless network. Private wireless solutions offer built-in encryption,
physical network separation, and compatibility with zero-trust frameworks,
making them ideal for mission-critical infrastructure while maintaining
business continuity and compliance.
"GlobalData
forecasts the global private wireless network market will nearly double to US$8
billion by 2027. This reflects the growing demand as industries face mounting
pressure to modernize in line with global sustainability and efficiency goals.
Nokia and GlobalData's latest research helps leaders build strong business
cases for digitalization by showing how private wireless and on-premise edge
not only reduce costs but also accelerate scalable transformation with
measurable improvements in worker safety, productivity, security and
environmental impact," said David de Lancellotti, Vice President
of Enterprise Campus Edge Sales at Nokia.
"Private
5G has been a game changer for BASF Antwerp. We're unlocking automation,
strengthening occupational safety, accelerating innovation, and meeting ROI
targets in just two years. We have become a front-runner for the wider group
with learnings that will deliver value at multiple BASF group locations,"
said, Steven Werbrouck, Expert Network Connectivity at BASF.
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